ATBECHDEDKESFRGBGRITLILUNLSEMCPTIE......FI......................................
R
DIM360 (Ver 1.5 21 Nov 2005) - 1100000/0
0838380
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC
A1
19980429
EP
97919407.3
19970422
es
en
en
9600091
19960422
ES
9600212
19961008
ES
19980429
199818
19980429
199818
6
6B 60S 5/04 A
de
ELEKTRONISCHE LUFTVERTEILUNGSANLAGE UND DRUCKAUSGLEICHSYSTEM FÜR LUFTREIFEN
en
ELECTRONIC AIR DISPENSING AND PRESSURE BALANCING SYSTEM FOR TYRES
fr
SYSTEME ELECTRONIQUE DE DISTRIBUTION D'AIR ET D'EQUILIBRAGE DE PRESSIONS POUR PNEUMATIQUES
1
FAST AIR, S.L.
02222061
PCT72/EP
Puerto Rico 6A, Bajo
28016 Madrid
ES
LOUREIRO BENIMELI, Fermin Jaime
Puerto Rico, 6A, Bajo
E-28016 Madrid
ES
Urizar Anasagasti, José Antonio
00054196
Puerto Rico 6A, Bajo
28016 Madrid
ES
AT
BE
CH
DE
DK
ES
FI
FR
GB
GR
IE
IT
LI
LU
MC
NL
PT
SE
ES9700102
19970422
es
WO9739925
19971030
199746
19971030
000000
Electronic air dispensing and pressure balancing system for tyres to be installed preferably in petrol stations, service areas, mechanical assistance stations on roads or the like, of the type comprising a compression unit which, either through a tank or directly, supplies a gas, preferably compressed air, to an inflation unit which has a plurality of inflation conduits provided at their free ends with means for coupling said inflation conduits to the tyre valve, as well as a supporting structure for said conduits, having an actuation unit or a machine (1) comprised of a case (2), a metal frame (11), an electronic mesuring instrument, a pneumatic equipment (35), a propulsor or compressor equipment, with an external or internal compression unit, a base or support unit and an air supplying unit (5).
The object of the present invention relates, as its title indicates, to an electronic air suppliying and pressure equalizer system for tyres, to be preferably installed at gas stations, service areas, mechanical assistance points on roads or the like, which has important advantages over installations nowaday existing.
Correct tyre-inflating of vehicles in circulation is a determinant factor for road safety, as well as further economic factors such as tyre durability or fuel consumption.
Nowadays, most assistance points located in gas stations, service areas mechanic assistance points on roads or the like have a variety of installations allowing user to control or check up the pressure condition of vehicle tyres, which however have some lacks resulting in important drawbacks forthe user of said installations.
Most inflating installations nowadays existing consist of a compression unit which either through a deposit or directly supplies a gas, preferably compressed air, to a inflating unit generally constituted by one only conduit or hose, in whose free end there is located the inflating valve which is coupled to the valve of vehicle tyre to be inflated or whose pressure is to be checked. Pressure control of each tyre is carried out through a central control unit. Likewise, user has tables for pressure calibration, in order to determine the suitable tyre pressure in each vehicle and under each driving condition.
However, this inflating installation structure has a series of drawbacks. Arrangement of one only inflating conduit or hose demands user to suitably park the vehicle in order to thereby achieve the inflating of tyres thereof without needing vehicle relocation during the operation of pressure checking in different tyres. Even so, in most cases, in order to reach those tyres faraway from the installation, user has to suitably park the vehicle again or, in the best condition, to juggle with inflating hose, to pass it below or above the vehicle, as the unique manner to reach said tyres.
Likewise, most inflating installations are not provided with automatic means for inflating hose withdrawal, therefore, in most installations of this kind, said hose is thrown to the ground or even in the zone where vehicles run in, which provokes its dirtiness, as well as rubber deterioration and subsequent breaking, with the important drawbacks and expenses that it bears.
On the other hand, calibration tables installed next to inflating systems nowaday existing are often not very useful and they are frecuently incomplete.
Finally, studies carried out by the motor world demonstrate that most air supplying machines, due to their use, are damaged and they are not feasible, and that their signposting is deficient many times, then being totally unnoticed by user.
In order to efficiently overcome the lacks of inflating systems nowadays existing, the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, object of the present invention has been developed.
The present invention relates to an air supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, to be preferably installed at gas stations, service areas, mechanical assistance points on roads or the like, preferably comprising a working unit or machine, which is constituted as the main element of the system, from where operation of inflating vehicle tyres is controlled and effected, said working unit being constituted by a housing, a metal framework, an electronic meassuring instrument, a pneumatic equipment and means for visualization and control, a propeller or compressor equipment providing dry air from an inner or outer compression unit, a basis or supporting unit and an air delivering unit which conveys air from working unit or machine to vehicle tyres and which permits, in the case of vehicles having two wheel in each axis, pressure balancing of tyres belonging to the same axis.
More concretely, working unit or machine allows the supply of any pressure to vehicle tyres as well as pressure balancing in wheels of the same axis for vehicles with two wheels in each axis.
Said working unit or machine is provided with a housing, constituted as the outside envelope and therefore as the cover which shapes said machine, suitable to protect inner elements, preferably made, at one side, of metal terne plate with surface corrosion proofing made of zinc, chromatized in electrolytic bath and a bicomponent polyurethane paint coating and, at the remaining sides, preferably made of materials resisting atmospheric agents, such as, preferably, a preferably self-quenching, high density expanded stiff polyurethane resin, with a, preferably bicomponent polyurethane enamel external coating. At said preferably metal side, one or more gates with joint hinges are provided, suitable to allow the access to inner elements in the machine, which are provided with a boxing with a drain and a rubber seal, as well as with a safety lock. Housing is further provided with ventilation means to obtain an air current inside which avoids moisture condensation on electronic components, such as, preferably, several ventilation screens preferably located at the upper and the lower portion of the housing.
Metal framework in the working unit or machine consists of a metal structure preferably built of L-shaped section profiles preferably bent forming right angles and burnt together, in order to provide machine with rigidity and to support lateral stresses which may appear due to external agents such as wind. Said metal framework is provided with a corrosion proofing coating, preferably constituted by a zinc electrolytic bath chromatized and epoxy-poliurethane paint. Said metal framework is further provided with means for fixing the housing, preferably constituted by screws.
Measuring instrument in the working unit or machine consists of an electronic set comprising three intelligent modules, such as a visualizer-supervisory module, a keyboard module and an adjustment module, independently operated, each one having a microcontroller for the execution of that process commended to each module, preferably communicated by two wires in accordance with the specifications of the corresponding communication bus, as well as a pneumatic control and power supply module providing the necessary energy for the operation of the remaining modules, simultaneously managing the pneumatic equipment.
More concretely, said visualizer-supervisory module of the measuring instrument is constituted by a microcontroller, a series-parallel interface for managing the visualizer, a visualizer, a protected writing memory, a supply control circuit, a infrared receiving circuit, a battery and a load circuit. Said module is in charge of presenting the pressure measure, in an intelligible manner, outside, storing the information introduced from outside through the keyboard module, as well as supervising the complete equipment operation, managing the information received from the remaining modules, deciding the process to be effected, and sending the appropriate orders through the communication bus to the remaining modules.
Keyboard module is in charge of receiving orders from outside and communicating them to the supervisory module for their interpretation and for acting in accordance with the criterion stablished by the program, and it is provided with a microcontroller, an interface between the intelligent element and the keyboard, preferably constituted by transistors, light indicators and, optionaly, with cashing means, either by coins or by credit cards. Detection of the activation of a key, approval of a card-transaction or coin-acceptance are communicated by the communication bus to the supervisory module, said supervisory module determining the process(es) to be effected, including the orders to the keyboard module for activating or desactivating either the light indicators or the card (or coin) acceptor.
Adjustment module is in charge of recovering information about pressure and converting said information into digital information; it has a microcontroller, an analogical-digital converter with differential input, a low noise linear amplifier and a pressure transducer. Said adjustment module converts information regarding to barometric pressure into a numerical digital value, operates the electrovalves and manually or automaticaly realize those necessary pressure-adjustment processes to achieve the desired pressure.
Finally, power supply consists of the circuit in charge of supplying the necessary energy to each one of the forementioned modules for the correct operation thererof; it has voltage stabilizers such as, preferably, a circuit with a transistor and protection means, such as a filter located at the network input in order to avoid the production of radiofrecuence interferences. Additionally, it is provided with a power supply monitoring system, suitable to detect voltage drops below a safety value, and it supplies the initialization signal of modules. Finally, it includes an efficiency control for managing the pneumatic equipment by, preferably, optocoupling triacs indicating whether voltage is in those elements constituting said pneumatic equipment or not, as well as a monitoring of the correct operation of said pneumatic equipment.
Optionally, the electronic air supplying and pressure equalizer system for tyres has a remote control for selecting the inflating pressure to be reached by said system. Said remote control will have a keyboard, a converter of the electric signal generated by the keyboard to, preferebly, infrared waves, and a transmitter for said waves, suitable to emit the signal corresponding to the value introduced by said remote control keyboard to the infrared receving circuit installed in the working unit, preferably in its housing. Said signal receiving circuit has a signal transducer converting the infrared signal received into an electric signal, which is directly sent to the visualizer-supervisory module of the measuring instrument whose microcontroller generates the corresponding orders.
Said keyboard installed in the remote control may be either a numerical keyboard, similar to those installed in the working unit and connected to the keyboard module, suitable for introducing any value, or one only key containing the entry of the value associated with the optimum pressure of vehicle tyre, in which case remote control would be personal, associated with the vehicle.
Pneumatic equipment of working unit or machine is the element in charge of managing the air flow which will permit to fill up or to empty tyres untill achieving the pressure desired. Said pneumatic equipment consists of four electrovalves communicating wheels with the pressure source or compressor, with the very measuring instrument and with the atmosphere. Said electrovalves join together in a common node or hot node, to which said measuring instrument joins too.
Two from said electrovalves work simultaneously and are in charge of connecting distribution and connection means, such as hoses, coming from vehicle tyres, to said hot node, so achieving a double effect. On the one hand, pressures into both tyres get equal in accordance with the communicating vessels principle, and at the same time, it is possible to measure the pressure of the grip between the wheels. The use of two electrovalves does not permit the cross balancing of wheels as hoses change between one axis and the other.
Once the above set of tyre electrovalves is open, one of the two remaining electrovalves joins the hot node with the compressor in order to thereby increase pressure.
Once the above set of tyre electrovalves is open, the second of the two remaining electrovalves joins the hot node with the atmosphere in order to thereby decrease pressure.
Likewise, said pneumatic equipment has a non return valve located at the pneumatic set pressure inlet, in order to avoid that, in the absence of pressure inside the compressor, tyres could deflate.
Pneumatic set is complemented with several means for protecting the measuring instrument against water and dirtiness existing in the installation and/or in the compressor, as well as against pressures higher than those which said measuring instrument can support, such as, preferably, a filter and a regulator.
The propeller or compressor equipment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres provides dry air at a pre-established minimum pressure. Said compressor can be either interior, so suitably sizing the outer housing in order to lodge said compressor, or external, in which case, a larger and therefore more powerful compressor can be used, thereby favouring the response time of the system.
The basis or supporting unit consists of a socle or pedestal, appropriate to support the working unit or machine and the air delivering unit, preferably parallelopipedic-wise shaped, open at its lower face, preferably made of steel plate, with corrosion proofing by electrolytic zinc bath, chromatized and bicomponent epoxy-polyurethane paint, which is provided with means for fixing to the ground by screws and retaining billets. Said basis may optionally have a small gate for having access to the coin box existing inside the machine.
Air delivering unit is the unit in charge of managing the air from the working unit or machine to vehicle tyres through several conduits or hoses; it has a structure for supporting said conduits or hoses, location means suitable to adapt the position of said conduits or hoses to vehicle tyres to be inflated or whose pressure will be checked, and means for the return and/or automatic withdrawal of said conduits or hoses from their working position to their rest position. Said air delivering unit configuration is therefore suitable to avoid that neither said conduits or hoses or their terminal connection mouthpieces drag on the ground, thereby avoiding the resulting deterioration and dirtiness.
Means for supporting conduits or hoses of the air delivering unit are preferably constituted with a structural rigidity capable of resisting such factors as the use by the users, climate conditions and, in inflating installations which place said supporting means on the ground, the weight of vehicles driving on the same.
The means for location of inflating conduits or hoses in vehicle tyres basically depend on the practical embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres; they can be either static, where vehicle is which fits to the inflating installation, or movable, where the user manage the location means for coupling inflating conduits or hoses to vehicle tyres. In any case, said location means are capable of making easier for the user the fitting of inflating conduits or hoses to vehicle tyres.
Air delivering unit of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention is provided with means for the return and/or automatic withdrawal of said conduits or hoses from their working position to their rest position, preferably constituted by automatic mechanisms for the return, withdrawal and/or rolling up of the inflating conduits or hoses as well as means for the location of said conduits or hoses, especially in the case of moveable location means.
In order to facilitate and achieve a better disposal of inflating conduits or hoses of the installation to the vehicle whose tyres will be inflated or whose pressure will be checked, it becomes appropriate to provide different conduits or hoses preferably placed at both sides of the vehicle when it stops in the inflating installation to get on the corresponding process. Thereby, electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres preferably comprises two or four inflating conduits or hoses.
Optionally, electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres may be provided with a inflating conduit or hose specific for use in vehicles with two-wheels, such as bicycles, motorcycles or the like.
Additionally, inflating conduits or hoses have at their free ends, coupling means capable of coupling said inflating conduits or hoses to tyre valve and thereby getting on with the inflating or pressure checking in the corresponding tyre.
Said coupling means capable of coupling said inflating conduits or hoses to tyre valve preferably consist of a coupling nozzle, suitable for its easy and fast connection and disconnection of hoses (from the air supplying unit) with wheel valves, defined by a small diameter cylindrical configuration with a lenght suitable to reach the valve, in the case of this latter is lodged in a cavity, which is provided with automatic lockage means suitable to avoid air escape when nozzle is not connected to the valve.
More concretely, said coupling nozzle comprises a cylindrical shaped external piece or slide closed at its rear side by a screw cap, in whose opposite end it is provided with a circular opening suitable to get into the valve. Inside said external piece or slide, two pieces are lodged sliding in relation to the first one and mounted one with the other preferably by a screwed joint. Inside one of said pieces, the nearest to tyre valve, a hollow, internally stepped tubular piece is lodged sliding in relation to said piece which lodges it, and lodging a hammer consisting of a cylindrical rod which has a widening with a polygonal, preferably hexagonal cross-section suitable to avoid the return inside said tubular piece as well as to allow an air current between the interstices existing between polygon chords and circular section of the tubular piece. Said tubular piece has, in its end nearest to tyre valve, a rubber conical seal, suitable to plug the air inlet hole. Finally, said tubular piece has two "L"-ended springs fastened by an external cylindrical collar. The "L"-end of said springs is introduced in several grooves made on said tubular piece nozzle. On the other hand, the second of said pieces lodged in the external_piece or slide, that nearest to the air inlet through the external conduit or hose, has a cylindrical hollow inside, and it has a howitzer screwed in its fore end, similar to those lodged in vehicle valves, at whose free end it has a little spring and its rear portion externally ends in a series of preferably culvertail shaped, projections, appropriate for a leakproof-coupling to the rubber of the external air conduit or hose, through which air from machine flows. Likewise, said piece has a circular crown-shaped internal widening which has four balls diametrically and normally opposite two by two, built in and pressed by elastic means such as, preferably, springs, said balls being faced to an inner groove made in said external piece or slide. Next to its internal widening and faced to the inside of the coupling nozzle, an inner spring is arranged surounding the tubular outside of said piece, suitable to integrally move both pieces lodged in said external piece or slide, and thereby draw said balls out from the corresponding grooves. Finally, the external piece or slide is inside provided with a collar shaped like a truncated cone, suitable to press said "L"-ended springs when the integral set formed by the pieces has moved to the stop resulting from the screw cap closing said external piece or slide.
The electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention whose configuration has been disclosed above, is provided with different modes of working which the user can select.
Therefore, the three modes of working which the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres has are: checking-balancing mode, manual inflating-balancing mode and automatic inflating-balancing mode.
Checking-balancing mode is selected by pressing a key arranged for that purpose in the keyboard forming a part of the keyboard module, so provoking the opening of the adjustment module electrovalves, and it is used by the user in order to check tyre pressure as well as to balance the pressure of tyres belonging to the same axis in a vehicle, in the case of said axis has at least two tyres, presenting the pressure existing inside the tyre, once it has been determined by the electronic measuring instrument, on the visualizer of the visualizer-supervisory module of the measuring instrument.
Manual inflating-balancing mode allows to adjust the pressure as user wishes, by using inflating and deflating key(s) arranged on the keyboard forming a part of the keyboard module, therefore provoking the opening and/or closing of adjustment module electrovalves, by operating the corresponding electrovalve, at the same time that pressure existing inside vehicle tyres measured through said measuring instrument is displayed on the visualizer of the visualizer-supervisory module. Comparison of the information displayed on said visualizer regarding to pressure existing inside the tyres, with the presure desired by the user to reach inside vehicle tyres determines the inflating or the deflating action. Pressure balancing between tyres belonging to the same axis is automaticaly carried out by the configuration of the system and, in particular, that of the electrovalves described above.
Automatic inflating-balancing mode allows to adjust the pressure, as the user wishes, up to a value pre-established by him/her by introducing the corresponding value through the keyboard forming a part of the keyboard module, either by the explicit numerical introduction by pressing the corresponding numerical keys arranged for that purpose, or by selecting any pre-determined value by pressing the only key arranged for that purpose. Once said pre-established value is selected, the machine automaticaly acts by suitably working the electrovalves until the preselected value is achieved, tyre pressure being compared at every moment with the pre-determined value, and the machine acting consequently.
Optionally or additionally, the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, in terms of its working modes, can be provided with an acoustic warning device which indicates by an acoustic signal that system has finished the inflating-balancing process, so the pre-determined value being reached, when said system works at the automatic inflating-balancing mode.
Finally, the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention is provided with different selectable cashing modes such as free mode or payment mode as selected by system's operator and, when choosing the payment mode, it is provided with various options: coin payment or card payment, either with the own card comprising a determined number of services or with a money-card of any bank, eligible by the user. Said coin-box comprises a groove through which the necessary coin(s) should be introduced in order to switch the system on. In the case of a defective coin were introduced and blocked up, it will be recovered by pressing the return button located below said groove, thereby coin will appear in a box located below said button. Likewise, if coin were unappropriate or system were either unplugged from the network or on working, said coin would be automatically returned.
Optionally, the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention can be provided with means for remote control from a central station in order to test the condition of the system, as well as, when necessary, to periodically count up the money collected in said system. Said remote control means are preferably established by communication via modem acting on the checking and/or counting unit located inside the system object of the present invention.
Additionally, the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention can be optionally provided with a transmitter-receiver system in order to consider, along the pressure adjustment process, some parameters such as, in particular, temperature. For that, a tyre valve is arranged, provided with a temperature measurer, a transducer converting said temperature signal into an electric signal, and a transmitter, preferably operated by radiofrecuence or infrared waves, sending said electrical signal converted into radiofrecence waves or infrared radiation, up to a receiver arranged in the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, preferably on its housing. Signal received is converted into an electric signal and sent to the visualizer-supervisory module, whose microcontroller will suitably estimate the tyre temperature pondering factor regarding to the selected pressure, therefore generating the corresponding correction factor.
Likewise, the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention is provided with means for indicating the working and the end of operating such as, preferably, a decorative system, such as, for example, a windmill electrically connected to the visualizer-supervisory module to work its spin movement while machine is working, as well as a sound warning capable of emitting an acoustic signal once the process of tyre inflating and/or pressure balancing between tyres of the same axis has finished.
The electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention may consist of one only unit, as disclosed above or adopt a modular design so becoming a multi-station, multi-user and multi-function system. In this case, system will comprise a centre for managing the plurality of terminal service stations, as well as a set of autonomous use terminals, subjected to said managig centre. Different elements disclosed above will be distributed among different components of said multi-station system. Therefore, managing centre will include a compressor, owning to the centre where it is installed, a general control circuit, suitable to carry out the acceptance of cashing means, store transactions, control service times, and manage communications, as well as a communication module, preferably via modem. On the other hand, autonomous use terminals will be provided with a visualization device, a pressure control, a keyboard control, a cashing control, including a coin box and a card reader, as well as a pressure transducer. Particular disposal as well as features of each autonomous terminal will be able to adopt any embodiment to which reference is made below for the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention. Likewise, it is appropriate to underline that compressor placed in said managing centre will be suitably sized to do a service to the different autonomous terminals simultaneously, or at least to a determined number of them, simultaneously.
From all that has been disclosed above, many advantages provided by the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention are apparent, such as the convenience and easiness for using the system by the user, as well as the cleaning derived from the fact that system has a air delivering unit comprising a support and a gyratory arm, whose configuration avoids that hoses or conduits in charge of bringing air from system up to tyres would get thrown to the ground being spoilt or broken, thanks to having automatic means for the withdrawal of inflating hoses, and its feasibility, thanks to having suitable remote checking means.
In order to better understand the object of the present invention, a preferred practical embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, is next disclosed based on figures herein attached. In said figures, the following is shown:
- Figure 1 shows a frontal view of a first embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention.
- Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d show lateral views of the housing of the working unit of the present practical embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention.
- Figure 3 shows the transversal cross-section of the housing and metal framework of the working unit of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention.
- Figures 4a and 4b show, respectively, a front view and a plan view of the air delivering unit consisting of a support and a gyratory arm.
- Figures 5a and 5b show two cross-section views of the nozzle for coupling the inflating conduits or hoses to tyre valve, standing for, respectively, the rest and load conditions, i.e., when all air inlets are open.
- Figures 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e show, respectively, a front view, a lateral view, a plan view and two transversal and longitudinal, cross-section-views of the basis or supporting unit.
- Figure 7 shows the electric sketch of the present practical embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention.
- Figure 8 shows the pneumatic sketch of the present practical embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention.
- Figure 9 diagrammaticaly shows a view of a second preferred practical embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, comprising two inflating modules or devices.
- Figure 10a shows the cross-sectioned inside of the inflating module or device corresponding to the second practical embodiment represented in figure 9.
- Figure 10b shows a front view of the outside of the inflating module or device corresponding to the second practical embodiment represented in figure 9.
- Figure 11 diagrammaticaly shows a view of a thirth preferred practical embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, comprising four inflating modules or devices.
- Figure 12 diagrammaticaly shows a view of a fourth preferred practical embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, comprising two inflating modules or devices.
- Figure 13 shows the sketch of an embodiment of a multi-user system of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres.
Figure 1 shows a practical embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres consisting of a working unit or machine (1), which is constituted as the main element of the system, from where the process of inflating vehicle tyres is controled and carried out, which allows the supply of any pressure to the vehicle tyres as well as the pressure balancing between wheels of the same axis, in the case of vehicles having two wheels at each axis, wherein there are shown the housing (2) and the visualization and control means (3) from said working unit. Likewise, the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres consists of a propeller or compressor equipment (not shown in figure), which provides dry air from an internal or external compressor unit, a basis or supporting unit (4) and an air delivering unit (5) conveying air from the working unit or machine (1) up to vehicle tyres and which, in the case of vehicles with two wheels at each axis, allows pressure balancing between tyres of the same axis.
Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d show the housing (2) of the working unit constituted as the external envelope shaped as a square-base truncated pyramid. In order to make its construction easier, housing (2) is divided into two, upper (2a) and lower (2b) portions, leakproof linked together. So that, said housing (2) is the coating which shapes said machine, suitable to protect internal elements. Housing (2) is made, at one of its sides (6d)(figure 2d), of metal terne plate with surface corrosion proofing made of zinc, chromatized in electrolytic bath and a bicomponent polyurethane paint coating. At the remaining sides (6a, 6b, 6c)(figures 2a, 2b, 2c), said housing (2) is made of materials resisting atmospheric agents, such as a preferably self-quenching, high density expanded stiff polyurethane resin, with a, preferably bicomponent polyurethane enamel external coating. At said metal side (6d) two gates (7a, 7b) with joint hinges are provided, to allow the access to inner elements in the machine, which are provided with a boxing with a drain and a rubber seal, as well as with a safety lock (8a, 8b). Housing (2) is further provided, preferably located at said metal side (6d), with air inlet screens located at the upside (9) and downside (10) of said housing (2), in order to allow an inner air current which avoids moisture condensation on electronic components.
At the fore side (6c), housing is provided with means for coupling visualization and control means (3) of the system, such as, preferably, a visualization display, a keyboard and various cashing means (figura 2c).
Figure 3 shows a transversal cross-section of housing (2) and metal framework (11). As it is noticeable from said figure, metal framework consists of a metal structure made of L-shaped cross-section profiles (12) preferably bent forming right angles and burnt together, in order to provide the machine with rigidity and to support lateral stresses which may occur due to external agents such as wind. Said metal framework (11) is provided with a corrosion proofing coating, preferably constituted by a zinc electrolytic bath, chromatized and epoxy-poliurethane paint. Said metal framework (11) is further provided with means for fixing the housing, preferably constituted by screws (not shown in figure).
Air delivering unit (5) of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention is the unit in charge of conveying air from the working unit or machine (1) up to vehicle tyres. Said air delivering unit (5) is provided with a structure for supporting said conduits or hoses, with location means suitable to adapt the location of said conduits or hoses up to vehicle tyres to be inflated or whose presure is to be checked, and with means for automatic return or withdrawal of said conduits or hoses from their working position up to their rest position.
Figure 4a and 4b show a practical embodiment of said air delivering unit (5) comprising a support (13) and a gyratory arm (14). Support (13) consists of a hollow tube made of painted steel, at whose lower end it has means for fixing to the basis (4) of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, preferably consisting of an anchorage plate (15) to screw on the basis (4). Gyratory arm (14) comprises a first vertical tubular stretch (14a) from whose end, a second tubular stretch (14b) extends describing a 90° curve until getting horizontal, i.e., parallel to the ground, and a diagonal bar (16) for supporting and reinforcing said horizontal tubular stretch (14b). The height at which said horizontal tubular stretch (14b) is placed is preferably of more than 1.70 m, and, in any case, in accordance with the height of vehicles to operate with the present inflating installation.
Air delivering unit (5) is provided with location means, which allow a 90°-180° rotation of the upper tubular stretch of the arm (14) arround the lower tubular stretch or support (13), from its rest position considered as that in which the upper horizontal tubular stretch (14b) is substantially placed parallel to the longitudinal axis of a vehicle parked next to the inflating system, up to its working position, considered as that in which the upper horizontal tubular stretch (14b) is substantially placed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a vehicle parked next to the inflating system, in order to proceed to inflate the tyres located at each side of the vehicle parked or to check the pressure thereof. Said location means consist of said arm (14) rotation means arranged at the upper end, such as, preferably, a nylon bearing (17) composed of two coupled cylinders (17a, 17b), slant wise cross-sectioned, so that when arm (14) rotation is effected, the bearing (17) forces it to return to its natural position.
Through the inside of said support (13) and arm (14), tubes (18) run, entering by said support (13) basis, and through which air from working unit (1) or machine flows. Said arm (14) has two outlet holes (19, 20) to lead hoses (21) out to vehicle tyre. The gap between said outlet holes (19, 20) is preferably between 1.75 m and 2.80 m; more preferably between 1.90 m and 2.50 m and, in any case, in accordance with the width of vehicles to be operated with the present inflating installation. Likewise, support (13) of the air delivering unit (5) has a lateral hole (22) for the outlet of a inflating conduit or hose (23) specific for being used in vehicles with two wheels, such as bicycles, motorcycles or the like.
Likewise, air delivering unit (5) is provided with means for automatic return or withdrawal of said conduits or hoses (21) from their working position up to their rest position, each consisting of, firstly, vertical coilings (25a, 25b) for lifting, return and/or withdrawal of inflating conduits or hoses (21) arranged on the upper horizontal tubular stretch (14b) of the gyratory arm (14) described above, to withdraw inflating conduits or hoses (21) from their stretched position to reach inflating valves of tyres, up to their withdrawn position, in which they hang from the upper horizontal stretch without touching the ground, in order to avoid spoiling thereof and, secondly, the preferably 90° to 180° gyratory device with automatic gravitatory return disclosed above, which effects the automatic gravitatory return movement of the upper tubular horizontal stretch arround the point of coupling between support (13) and the gyratory arm (14), from the working position up to the rest position.
Conduit or hose (23) for operating vehicles with two wheels, such as bicycles, motorcycles, motor bikes or the like, is provided with supporting means for its rest position, for example, shaped as a hook (26), and manual or, optionally automatic means for return and/or withdrawal (not shown in the figure).
Additionally, inflating conduits or hoses (21), at their free ends, are provided with coupling means (24a, 24b, 24c) suitable to couple said inflating conduits or hoses (21, 23) to tyre valve and thereby proceed to the inflating or pressure checking of the corresponding tyre. As it may be shown, the coupling means (24c) for vehicles with two wheels has a 90°-bended shape in order to facilitate its coupling to the tyres of said vehicles.
Figures 5a and 5b represent, in detail, the cross-section of said coupling means suitable to couple said inflating conduits or hoses to tyre valve (78), constituted by a coupling nozzle, suitable to its easy and fast connection and disconnection of hoses (from the air delivering unit) with valves (78) in wheels, defined by a small diameter cylindrical configuration with a lenght suitable to reach the valve (78), in the case of the latter is lodged in a cavity, which is provided with automatic lockage means suitable to avoid air escape when nozzle is not connected to the valve (78).
More concretely, said coupling nozzle comprises a cylindrical shaped external piece or slide (61) closed at its rear side by a screw cap (62), in whose opposite end it is provided with a circular opening (63) suitable to get into the valve (78). Inside said external piece or slide (61), two pieces (64, 65) are lodged sliding in relation to the first (61) and mounted one with the other preferably by a screwed joint (66). Inside one of said pieces (64), the nearest to tyre valve (78), a hollow, internally stepped tubular piece (67) is lodged sliding in relation to said piece (64) which lodges it, and lodging a hammer (68) consisting of a cylindrical rod which has a widening with a polygonal, preferably hexagonal, cross-section, suitable to avoid the return inside said tubular piece (67) as well as to allow an air current between interstices existing between polygon chords and circular section of the tubular piece (67). Said tubular piece (67) has, in its end nearest to tyre valve (78), a rubber conical seal (79), suitable to plug the air inlet hole. Finally, said tubular piece (67) has two "L"-ended springs (74a, 74b) fastened by an external cylindrical collar (75). The "L"-end of said springs (74a, 74b) is introduced in several grooves (76a, 76b) made on said tubular piece (67) nozzle. On the other hand, the second (65) of said pieces lodged in the external_piece or slide (61), that nearest to the air inlet through the external conduit or hose, has a cylindrical hollow inside, and it has a howitzer (69) screwed in its fore end, similar to those lodged in vehicle valves, at whose free end it has a little spring (77) and its rear portion externally ends in a series of, preferably culvertail shaped, projections (70), which is suitable for a leakproof coupling to the rubber of the external air conduit or hose, through which air from machine flows. Likewise, said piece (65) has a circular crown-shaped internal widening (71) which has four balls (72) diametrally and normally opposite two by two, built in and pressed by springs (73), said balls (72) being faced to an inner groove (84) made in said external piece or slide (61). Next to said circular crown-shaped internal widening (71) and faced to the inside of the coupling nozzle, an inner spring (80) is arranged surounding the tubular outside of said piece (65), suitable to integrally move both pieces (64, 65) lodged in said external piece or slide (61), and thereby draw said balls (72) out from the corresponding grooves (84). Finally, the external piece or slide (61) is inside provided with a collar (83) shaped like a truncated cone, suitable to press said "L"-ended springs (74a, 74b) when the integral set formed by the pieces (64, 65) has moved to the stop resulting from the screw cap (62) closing said external piece or slide (61).
Figure 5b shows a cross-sectioned view of the nozzle for coupling the inflating conduits or hoses to tyre valve (78) at its loading condition, i.e., when all air inlets are open, which will facilitate the understanding of said coupling nozzle operation.
Vehicle valve (78) is introduced by the fore end of coupling nozzle, through the inside of the piece (64) lodged into the external piece or slide (61), pushing the hammer (68), which internally slides along the tubular piece (67) lodged into said piece (64). Hammer (68), along its movement, pushes the internal piston of howitzer (69), thereby overcoming the resistance of its internal spring (77), and opening the air inlet hole (82), originally closed by the rubber conical seal (79), so begining to move said tubular piece (67), which has to overcome the resistance of spring (80) surrounding the tubular outside of the second piece (65) lodged into the external piece or slide (61), untill it begins to move the integral set of pieces (64, 65), thereby drawing balls (72) out from the corresponding grooves (84).
Resistances of said springs (77, 80) are transmitted in the opposite sense to the rod (81) of howitzer in tyre valve (78), which results opened, thereby allowing air to flow.
When the integral set formed by pieces (64, 65) lodged into the external piece or slide (61) has moved up to the stop resulting from the screw cap (62) closing said external piece or slide (61), springs (74a, 74b) integral with the piece (64) are pressed by a collar (83) shaped like a truncated cone located into the external piece or slide (61), so that the "L"-shaped end of said springs (74a, 74b) juts out the corresponding grooves (76a, 76b) clamp-wise embrazing the valve (78), entering into the strias of the same and avoiding it to return.
In this position, shown in figure 5b, with the valve (78) clogged, air flow is free all along the run, and on the other hand, coupling nozzle is in a stable position, which can be unblocked only by pulling the external piece or slide (61), disconnecting said "L"-ended springs (74a, 74b), balls (72) entering again into their corresponding grooves (84), the air flow conduits being closed back again by means of springs, the whole set becoming to the rest position and vehicle valve (78) being loose.
Figures 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e show different views of the basis or supporting unit (4), consisting of a socle or pedestal, appropriate to support the working unit or machine (1) and the air delivering unit (5). Said support or basis is parallelopipedic-wise shaped, open at its lower face, made of steel plate, with corrosion proofing by electrolytic zinc bath, chromatized and bicomponent epoxy-polyurethane paint. Likewise, it is provided with means for fixing to the ground by screws (27) and retaining billets (not shown in figure).
Said basis may optionally have a small gate (28) for having access to the coin box existing inside the machine.
Figure 7 shows an electronic sketch of the measuring instrument of the working unit or machine (1). Said working unit (1) is constituted by an electronic set formed by three intelligent modules, such as a visualizer-supervisory module (29), a keyboard module (30) and an adjustment module (31), independently operated, each one having a microcontroller for the execution of that process commended to each module, preferably communicated by two wires in accordance with the specifications of the corresponding communication bus (32), as well as a pneumatic control and power supply module (33) providing the necessary energy for the operation of the remaining modules through the corresponding supply buses (34), simultaneously managing the pneumatic equipment (35).
Said visualizer-supervisory module (29) of the measuring instrument is constituted by a microcontroller, a series-parallel interface for the managing of the visualizer, a visualizer (36), a protected writing memory, a supply control circuit, an infrared receiving circuit, a battery and a load circuit. Said module is in charge of presenting the pressure measure, in an intelligible manner, outside, storing the information introduced from outside through the keyboard module (30), as well as supervising the complete equipment operation, managing the information received from the remaining modules, deciding the process to be effected, and sending the appropriate orders through the communication bus (32) to the remaining modules.
Keyboard module (30) is in charge of receiving orders from outside and communicating them to the supervisory module (29) for their interpretation and for acting in accordance with the criterion established by the program, and it is provided with a microcontroller, an interface between the intelligent element and the keyboard (37), preferably constituted by transistors, light indicators (38) and, optionaly, with cashing means, either by coins (39) or by credit cards, money cards or the like (40). Detection of the activation of a key, approval of a card-transaction or coin-acceptance are communicated by the communication bus (32) to the supervisory module (29), said supervisory module (29) determining the process(es) to be effected, including the orders to the keyboard module (30) for activating or desactivating either the light indicators (38) or the card (40) [or coin (39)] acceptor.
Adjustment module (31) is in charge of recovering information about pressure and converting said information into digital information; it has a microcontroller, an analogical-digital converter with differential input, a low noise linear amplifier and a pressure transducer (41). Said adjustment module (31) converts information regarding to barometric pressure into a numerical digital value, operates the pneumatic system (35) electrovalves and manually or automaticaly realizes those necessary pressure-adjustment processes to achieve the desired pressure.
Finally, power supply (33) consists of the circuit in charged of supplying the necessary energy to each one of the fore-mentioned modules for the correct operation thererof; it has voltage stabilizers such as, preferably, a circuit with a transistor and protection means, such as a filter (42) located at the network input in order to avoid the production of radiofrecuence interferences. Aditionally, it is provided with a power supply monitoring system, suitable to detect voltage drops below a safety value, and it supplies the initialization signal to modules. Finally, it includes an efficiency control for managing the pneumatic equipment by, preferably, optocoupling triacs indicating whether power is in those elements constituting said pneumatic equipment (35) or not, as well as a monitoring of the correct operation of said pneumatic equipment (35).
Figure 8 shows the pneumatic sketch of the present practical embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention. Said pneumatic equipment (35) of the working unit or machine (1) is the element in charge of managing the air flow which will permit to fill up or to empty tyres untill achieving the pressure desired. The pneumatic equipment (35) consists of four electrovalves (43, 44, 45, 46) communicating wheels with the pressure source or compressor (47), with the very measuring instrument through a transducer (48) and with the atmosphere (49). Said electrovalves join together in a common node or hot node (50), to which said measuring instrument joins too.
Two of said electrovalves (43, 44) work simultaneously and are in charge of connecting distribution and connetion means, such as hoses (21), coming from vehicle tyres, to said hot node (50), so achieving a double effect. On the one hand, pressures into both tyres get equal in accordance with the principle of communicating vessels, and at the same time, it is possible to measure the pressure of the grip between the wheels. The use of two electrovalves (43, 44) does not permit the cross balancing of wheels as hoses (21)change between one axis and the other.
Once the above set of tyre electrovalves is open, one of the two remaining electrovalves (45) joins the hot node (50) with the compressor in order to thereby increase pressure.
Once the above set of tyre electrovalves is open, the second of the two remaining electrovalves (46) joins the hot node (50) with the atmosphere in order to thereby decrease pressure.
Likewise, said pneumatic equipment (35) has a non return valve (51) located at the pneumatic set pressure inlet, in order to avoid that, in the absence of pressure inside the compressor, tyres could deflate.
Pneumatic set (35) is complemented with several means for protecting the measuring instrument against water and dirtiness existing in the installation and/or in the compressor, as well as against pressures higher than those said measuring instrument can support, such as, preferably, a filter (52) and a regulator (53).
The propeller or compressor equipment (not shown in figures) of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres provides dry air at a pre-established minimum pressure. Said compressor can be either interior, so suitably sizing the outer housing in order to lodge said compressor, or external, in which case, a larger and therefore more powerful compressor can be used, thereby favouring the response time of the system.
The electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention whose configuration has been disclosed above, is provided with different modes of working which user can choose. The three modes of working which the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres has are: checking-balancing mode, manual inflating-balancing mode and automatic inflating-balancing mode.
The user begins the working of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres by connecting hoses (21) to vehicle tyres through nozzles, introducing these into the valves in tyres. Once this connection process is effected, it will be necessary to wait for a moment until reading becomes stabilized. This time is the required for pressure values inside both wheels to become equal, in the case of two wheels at each axis. Next, it should be selected whether to increse or decrease pressure based on the pressure being visualized and pressure that is aimed to reach. Once decision has been taken, it is possible to work the appropriate valve in each case. Time that this action should take will depend on various factors, the most remarkable being the difference between current pressure and pressure to be reached, the difficulty for air to pass through the pneumatic system, and the pressure of compressor supplying the air necessary in case of desiring to increase the barometric value. Since it seems to be difficult to achieve the desired pressure by activating only once the appropriate electrovalve for a determinate time, generally, an electrovalve should be worked, then it should be waited until pressure becomes stabilized and a new decision is taken about the action to do, which will depend, as before, on the pressure value read and that to be reached. Once decision is taken, the appropriate electrovalve should be worked, said process being repeated so many times as it were necessary, untill desired pressure is achieved.
In relation to the handling by the user, this can decide between being him/her-self who compares, takes the decision and repeatedly acts on the machine (manual mode) or letting the machine to be itself which carries out the process (automatic mode), the pressure value desired to be achieved being previously fixed through the keyboard (37), either by directly introducing the value, or by preselecting one of the pre-established values arranged on the keyboard (37). Likewise, user has the possibility to check and equalize pressures inside the tyres of the same vehicle axis.
The electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres is provided with an acoustic warning device which indicates by an acoustic signal that system has finished the inflating-balancing process, so the predetermined value being reached, when said system works at the automatic inflating-balancing mode.
Finally, the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention is provided with different selectable cashing means such as free mode or payment mode as selected by system's operator and, when choosing the payment mode, it is provided with various options: coin payment (39) or card payment (40), either with the own card comprising a determined number of services or with a money-card of any bank, eligible by the user. Said coin-box (39) comprises a groove through which the necessary coin(s) should be introduced in order to switch the system on. In the case of a defective coin were introduced and blocked up, it will be recovered by pressing the return button located below said groove, thereby coin will appear in a box located below said button. Likewise, if coin were unappropriate or system were either unplugged from the network or on working, said coin would be automatically returned.
Figures 9 to 12 show alternative embodiments of the unit of distribution of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres object of the present invention.
Figure 9 diagramatically shows a second preferred embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, having a series of inflating conduits or hoses (121) carrying the inflating gas, preferably compressed air, coming from the working unit (101) of the kind disclosed above.
Said second practical embodiment consists of two inflating modules or devices (102) doing the following functions: support of said conduits or hoses (121), location of said conduits or hoses and coupling thereof to vehicle tyres to be inflated or whose pressure is desired to check, and automatic withdrawal and/or return of said conduits or hoses (121) from their working position up to their rest position. Pressure control of each tyre is carried out through the central control unit, similar to that disclosed in figures 1 to 8. The two inflating modules or devices (102) are located in diametrally opposite positions, so that the user who desires to use the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres should park the vehicle between both inflating modules or devices (102), each one of the inflating modules or devices of rear and fore tyres being approximately equidistant to each corresponding side of the vehicle. Said inflating modules or devices (102) are placed at a gap of, preferably, between 1.75 m and 2.80 m more preferably between 1.90 m and 2.50 m between themselves, and, in any case, according to the width of vehicles to operate with the present inflating installation.
Inflating conduits or hoses (121) extend from the deposit or compression unit to inflating modules through underground pipes, going through a working and control unit (101).
Figures 10a and 10b diagrammaticaly show different views of inflating modules or devices (102), which have a housing made of a resistant material, preferably metal or the like, shaped as a semi-spherical cap, in whose inside an extensible inflating conduit or hose (121) is lodged, said housing (104) being thereby constituted as the means for supporting said inflating conduit or hose (121). Said housing (104) has, at its lower side, means for the anchorage and fixing to the ground, preferably constituted by threaded screws (105) introduced into the ground, secured by conventional nuts (106). Likewise, said housing (104) has, on its upper surface, an outlet hole (107) to extract the inflating conduit or hose (121) and to thereby couple the inflating valve (108), arranged at its free end, to tyre valve.
Likewise, inside said housing (104), there are automatic means for the returning and withdrawal of the inflating conduit or hose lodged therein, constituted by a channeled wheel (109) horizontally arranged with a device of springs which makes it to automatically revolve in a sense, so that the conduit or hose (121) used, which is stretched and extracted from the housing (104), is withdrawn up to its rest position by said automatic coiling means.
Figure 11 shows a thirth preferred embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, similar to that shown in Figure 9, which is provided with four inflating modules or devices (202) identical to those disclosed above distributed on an imaginary rectangle, in order to work one vehicle tyre from each one, so that the user who wants to use the inflating installation should park the vehicle on said imaginary rectangle, placing each one of the vehicle tyres approximately equidistant to the corresponding inflating module or device. Again, pressure control of each tyre is carried out through a central control and working unit (201). As in foregoing cases, gaps have to be suitable to park the vehicle on said imaginary rectangle, allowing an appropriate manoeuvrability margin.
Finally, figure 12 shows a fourth practical embodiment of the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres similar to that shown in figures 9 and 11, in which inflating modules or devices have a cylindrical shape (302) as a body emerging from the ground up to certain height, allowing the handling thereof by user without crouching, being inside provided with each one of the elements disclosed for the inflating module or device of the latter embodiment, regarding to figures 10a and 10b. As in foregoing embodiments, inflating hoses extend underground from the central control and working unit (301) to the inflating modules or devices (302).
As represented in figure 13, the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres can consist of a multi-station, multi-user and multi-function system. In this case, system comprises a central managing centre (54), as well as a set of autonomous use terminals (55.1, 55.2,... 55.n), subjected to said managing centre (54). The various elements disclosed above for individual systems will be distributed among the various components of said multi-station system. Therefore, managing centre (54) will comprise a compressor, owning to the centre where it is installed on, an overall control circuit suitable to carry out the acceptance of cashing means, store transactions, control service times, and manage communications, as well as a communication module, preferably via modem. Autonomous use terminals (55.1, 55.2,... 55.n), will be provided with a visualization device, a pressure control, a keyboard control, a payment control including a money box and a card reader, as well as a pressure transducer. The particular disposal as well as the features of each one of the autonomous terminals (55.1, 55.2,... 55.n) may adopt any one of the embodiments mentioned above. The so suggested multi-station configuration may complement the inflating and pressure control fuctions of each autonomous terminal (55.1, 55.2,... 55.n) with further functions, typical of a car-washing centre such as washing, vacuum cleaning, rug cleaning, etc.
Once the nature of the present invention, as well as several ways for putting it into practice have been sufficiently disclosed, it only remains to add that it is possible to introduce, in its whole or parts, variations in shape, materials and disposal, provided that said variations would not substantially those features of the invention which are claimed below.
1. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, to be preferably installed at gas stations, service areas, mechanical assistance points on roads or the like, similar to those comprising a compression unit, which, either trough a deposit or directly, supplies a gas, preferably compressed air, to a inflating unit, which has several inflating conduits or hoses preferably made of plastic, rubber or the like, having, at their free ends, means for coupling said inflating conduits to tyre valve, as well as a structure for supporting said conduits, characterized in that it is provided with:
a) a working unit or machine (1), having:
a housing (2) preferably made, at one of its sides (6d), of metal terne plate with surface corrosion proofing and, at the remaining sides (6a, 6b, 6c), preferably made of materials resisting atmospheric agents, such as, preferably, a preferably self-quenching, high density expanded stiff polyurethane resin, being provided at said metal side (6d) with one or more gates (7a, 7b), suitable to allow the access to inner elements, the housing (2) being further provided with ventilation means preferably constituted by air inlet screens (9, 10) preferably located at the upside and downside of said housing (2); a metal framework (11), consisting of a metal structure preferably made of L-shaped cross-section profiles (12) preferably bent forming right angles and burnt together, and it is provided with a corrosion-proofing coating, as well as means for fixing the housing, preferably constituted by screws;
an electronic measuring instrument, constituted by an electronic set formed by three intelligent modules, such as a visualizer-supervisory module (29), a keyboard module (30) and an adjustment module (31), and a pneumatic control and power supply module (33), as well as the buses for supply (34) and communication (32) between modules; and
a pneumatic equipment (35) consisting of four electrovalves (43, 44, 45, 46) suitable to communicate tyres with pressure source or compressor (47), with the very measuring instrument through a transducer (48) and with the atmosphere (49), said electrovalves and said measuring instrument being joined at a common node or hot node (50), and it is provided with a non return valve (51) located at the pressure inlet in said pneumatic set (35);
b) a propeller or compressor equipment, having an internal or external compressing unit;
c) a basis or supporting unit (4), consisting of a parallelopipedic-wise shaped, open at its lower face, preferably made of steel plate, with corrosion proofing, and provided with means for fixing to the ground by screws (27) and retaining billets; and
d) an air delivering unit.
2. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that the visualizer-supervisory module (29) of the measuring instrument is constituted by a microcontroller, a visualizer (36), a series-parallel interface for managing the visualizer (36), a protected writing memory, a supply control circuit, an infrared receiving circuit, a battery and a load circuit capable of presenting the pressure measure, in an intelligible manner, outside, storing the information introduced from outside through the keyboard module (30), and supervising the system operation, capable of managing the information received from the remaining modules, deciding the process to be effected, and sending the appropriate orders through the communication bus (32) to the remaining modules.
3. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that the keyboard module (30) in the measuring instrument is provided with a microcontroller, an interface between the intelligent element and the keyboard (37), preferably constituted by transistors light indicators (38) and with cashing means, either by coins (39) or by credit cards, money cards or the like (40), suitable to receive orders coming from the outside and to communicate them to the supervisory module (29) for their interpretation and execution, as well as for the detection of the activation of a key.
4. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that the adjustment module (31) in the measuring instrument is provided with a microcontroller, an analogical-digital converter with differential input, a low noise linear amplifier and a pressure transducer (41), suitable to convert information regarding to barometric pressure into a numerical digital value, operate the electrovalves (43, 44, 45, 46) and manually or automaticaly realize those necessary pressure-adjustment processes to achieve the desired pressure.
5. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that the power supply source (33) in the measuring instrument is provided with voltage stabilizers, such as, for example, preferably, a circuit with a transistor and protection means, such as a filter (42) located at the network input suitable to avoid the production of radiofrecuence interferences, a power supply monitoring system, suitable to detect voltage drops below a safety value and the supply of the initialization signal of modules, and with an efficiency control system for managing the pneumatic equipment by, preferably, optocoupling triacs indicating whether voltage is in those elements constituting said pneumatic equipment or not, as well as a monitoring of the correct operation of said pneumatic equipment (35).
6. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the fore claims, characterized in that it is provided with a remote control suitable to select the inflating pressure, comprising a keyboard, either a numerical keyboard, suitable for introducing any value, or one only key containing the entry of the value associated with the optimum pressure of vehicle tyre, a converter of the electrical signal generated by said keyboard into, preferably, infrared waves, and a transmitter of said waves, capable of emitting the signal corresponding to the value introduced by said keyboard of said remote control, to the infrared receiving circuit installed in the working unit, preferably on its housing, said signal receiving circuit being provided with a signal transducer capable of converting the infrared signal received, into an electric signal, and with means for transmission to the visualizer-supervisory module of the measuring instrument.
7. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that:
- two of said electrovalves (43, 44) of said pneumatic equipment (35) work simultaneously and are capable of connecting distribution and connetion means, such as hoses (21), coming from vehicle tyres, to said hot node (50);
- one of the remaining electrovalves (45) is capable of, once the above set of tyre electrovalves is opened, joining the hot node (50) with the compressor.
- the second of the remaining electrovalves (46) is capable of, once the above set of tyre electrovalves is opened, joining the hot node (50) with the atmosphere.
8. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that said pneumatic equipment (35) is provided with means for protecting the measuring instrument against water and dirtiness existing in the installation and/or in the compressor, as well as against pressures higher than those said measuring instrument can support, such as preferably, a filter (52) and a regulator (53).
9. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that the air delivering unit (5) is provided with:
a) static location means, considered as those where vehicle is which fits to the inflating installation;
b) and/or movable location means, considered as those managed by the user for coupling inflating conduits or hoses to vehicle tyres, capable of fitting the position of said inflating conduits or hoses to vehicle tyres;
c) and/or means for the return and/or automatic withdrawal of said conduits or hoses from their working position to their rest position, preferably constituted by automatic mechanisms for the return, withdrawal and/or coiling of the inflating conduits or hoses as well as means for said conduits or hoses location.
10. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to claims 1 and 9, characterized in that said supporting structure (13) of said air delivering unit (5) consists of a L-shaped tubular piece, preferably made of a metal material or the like, supported, at its lower end, by a basis (4) or stand comprising a first vertical tubular stretch (14a) from whose upper end a second tubular stretch (14b) extends describing a 90° curve until getting horizontal, i.e., parallel to the ground, having a section narrower than that of the fore stretch, and a diagonal bar (16) for supporting and reinforcing said horizontal tubular stretch (14b), and in that inflating conduits or hoses go through the inside of said supporting structure (13), entering through its basis and the inflating conduit or hose (23) for vehicles with two wheels going out through a lateral hole arranged on the vertical stretch (22), and the inflating conduits or hoses (21) for vehicles with three or more wheels each going out through holes (19, 20) arranged below on both ends of the upper horizontal tubular stretch (14b), said inflating conduits or hoses (21) having a gap of, preferably between 1.75 m and 2.80 m; more preferably between 1.90 m and 2.50 m, and the horizontal tubular stretch having a height of, preferably, more than 1,70 m from the floor plan.
11. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to claims 1, 9 and 10, characterized in that said location means consist of means for rotating arround the point of coupling between both tubular stretches of the supporting structure, preferably constituted by a nylon bearing (17) composed of two coupled cylinders (17a, 17b), slant wise cross-sectioned, which allow a preferably 90°-180° gyration of the upper tubular stretch (14b) arround the lower tubular stretch (14a), from its rest position considered as that in which the upper horizontal tubular stretch (14b) is substantially placed parallel to the longitudinal axis of a vehicle parked next to the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, up to its working position, considered as that in which the upper horizontal tubular stretch (14b) is substantially placed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a vehicle parked next to the electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres.
12. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to claims 1, 9, 10 and 11, characterized in that said means for the return and/or automatic withdrawal of the inflating conduits or hoses from their working position to their rest position each consist of vertical coilings (25a, 25b) for sustenance, return and/or withdrawal of inflating conduits or hoses (21) arranged on the upper horizontal tubular stretch (14b) of the supporting structure (13), as well as a device for the, preferably 90°-180°, gyration of the upper tubular horizontal stretch (14b), with automatic gravitatory return from their working position to their rest position.
13. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to claims 1 and 12, characterized in that the air delivering unit (5) is provided with inflating modules or devices (102) fixed to the ground placed at a gap of, preferably, between 1.75 m and 2.80 m, more preferably between 1.90 m and 2.50 m, and in that the corresponding inflating conduits or hoses (121) extend from the control and working unit (101) to the inflating modules (102) through underground pipes.
14. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to claims 1 and 9, characterized in that the air delivering unit (5) is provided with four inflating modules or devices (202) located on the vertices of an imaginary rectangle suitably sized to allow to park a vehicle on its area, and in that the corresponding inflating conduits or hoses extend from the control and working unit (201) to the inflating modules (202) through underground pipes.
15. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to claims 13 and 14, characterized in that inflating modules or devices (102, 202) are provided with a housing (104) made of a resistant material, preferably metal or the like, shaped as a semi-spherical cap, in whose inside an extensible inflating conduit or hose (121) is lodged, said housing (104) being thereby constituted as the means for supporting said inflating conduit or hose (121), said housing being provided, at its lower side, with means for the anchorage and fixing to the ground, preferably constituted by threaded screws (105) introduced into the ground, secured by conventional nuts (106), as well as, at its upper side, with an outlet hole (107) suitable to extract the inflating conduit or hose (121), and in that, inside said housing (104), there are automatic means for the returning and withdrawal of the inflating conduit or hose lodged therein, preferably constituted by a channeled wheel (109) horizontally arranged with a device of springs.
16. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to claims 13 and 14, characterized in that inflating modules or devices have a cylindrical shaped housing (302) emerging from the ground.
17. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that it is capable of working with three modes of working, eligible by the user, consisting of:
a) checking-balancing mode, eligible by pressing a key arranged for that purpose in the keyboard (37) forming a part of the keyboard module (30), so provoking the opening of the electrovalves (43, 44, 45, 46) of the adjustment module (31), suitable to carry out the checking of tyre pressure as well as to balance pressure inside tyres belonging to the same axis of the vehicle, in the case of said axis has at least two tyres, by presenting, once determined by the electronic measuring instrument, the pressure existing inside the tyres, on the visualizer (36) of the visualizer-supervisory module of the measuring instrument;
b) manual inflating-balancing mode, for effecting the pressure adjustment as user wishes, by using inflating and deflating key(s) arranged on the keyboard (37) forming a part of the keyboard module (30), provoking the opening and/or closing of the electrovalves (43, 44, 45, 46) of the adjustment module (31), by operating the corresponding electrovalve; at the same time that pressure existing inside vehicle tyres measured through the measuring instrument is displayed on the visualizer (36) of the visualizer-supervisory module (29) of said measuring instrument, pressure-balancing of tyres belonging to the same axis is carried out;
c) automatic inflating-balancing mode, for effecting the pressure adjustment as user wishes, up to a value pre-established by him/her by introducing the corresponding value through the keyboard (37) forming a part of the keyboard module (30), either by the explicit numerical introduction by pressing the corresponding numerical keys arranged for that purpose, or by selecting any pre-determined value by pressing the only key arranged for that purpose, in order to let the machine to automatically act, by suitably working the electrovalves (43, 44, 45, 46) up to achieve the preselected value, tyre pressure being compared at every moment with the pre-determined value, and the machine acting consequently.
18. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to claims 1 and 17, characterized in that it is provided with an acoustic warning device which indicates by an acoustic signal that system has finished the inflating-balancing process, so the pre-determined value being reached, when said system works at the automatic inflating-balancing mode.
19. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that it is capable of working with different eligible cashing modes, consisting of:
a) free mode; and
b) payment mode, provided with the following options eligible by the user: coin payment mode (39) or card payment mode (40), either with the own card comprising a determined number of services or with a money-card of any bank.
20. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that it is provided with remote control means preferably established by communication via modem from a central station suitable to test the condition of the system, as well as to periodically count up the money collected in said system.
21. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that it is provided with a transmitter-receiver system preferably operated by infrared or other kind of electromagnetic waves, a transducer for converting the infrared signal into an electric signal and means for transmitting to the visualizer-supervisory module, suitable to work together with external signal sources measuring those parameters on which inflating pressure depends, such as, preferably, temperature.
22. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the first claim, characterized in that those means for coupling said inflating conduits or hoses to tyre valve consist of a coupling nozzle comprising a cylindrical shaped external piece or slide (61) closed at its rear side by a screw cap (62), in whose opposite end it is provided with a circular opening (63) suitable to get into tyre valve (78); Inside said external piece or slide (61), two pieces (64, 65) are lodged sliding in relation to the first (61) and mounted one with the other preferably by a screwed joint (66).
23. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to the fore claim, characterized in that inside one of said pieces (64) lodged into the external piece or slide (61), the nearest to tyre valve (78), a hollow, internally stepped tubular piece (67) is lodged sliding in relation to said piece (64) which lodges it, and lodging a hammer (68) consisting of a cylindrical rod which has a widening with a polygonal, preferably hexagonal, cross-section, suitable to avoid the return inside said tubular piece (67) as well as to allow an air current among the interstices existing between polygon chords and circular section of the tubular piece (67), said tubular piece (67) having, in its end nearest to tyre valve (78), a rubber conical seal (79), suitable to plug the air inlet hole, as well as two "L"-ended springs (74a, 74b) fastened by an external cylindrical collar (75) and several grooves (76a, 76b) made on the nozzle of the tubular piece (67), suitable to lodge the "L"-shaped end of said springs (74a, 74b).
24. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to claims 22 and 23, characterized in that the second of said pieces (65) lodged into the external piece or slide (61), the nearest to the air inlet through the external conduit or hose, has a cylindrical hollow inside, and it has a howitzer (69) screwed in its fore end, similar to those lodged in vehicle valves, at whose free end it has a little spring (77) and its rear portion externally ends in a series of preferably culvertail shaped, projections (70), which is suitable for a leakproof-coupling to the rubber of the external air conduit or hose, through which air from machine flows, said piece (65) further having a circular crown-shaped internal widening (71) which has four balls (72) diametrally and normally opposite two by two, built in and pressed by springs (73), said balls (72) being faced to an inner groove (84) made in said external piece or slide (61), an inner spring (80) being arranged, next to said circular crown-shaped internal widening (71) and faced to the inside of the coupling nozzle, surounding the tubular outside of said piece (65), suitable to integrally move both pieces (64, 65) lodged in said external piece or slide (61), and thereby draw said balls (72) out from the corresponding grooves (84).
25. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to claims 22, 23 and 24, characterized in that said external piece or slide (61) is inside provided with a collar (83) shaped like a truncated cone, suitable to press said "L"-ended springs (74a, 74b) when the integral set formed by the pieces (64, 65) has moved to the stop resulting from the screw cap (62) closing said external piece or slide (61).
26. Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tyres, according to one of the fore claims, characterized in that it has a distributed multi-station configuration comprising a set of autonomous use terminals (55.1, 55.2,... 55.n), subjected to said managing centre (54), said managing centre (54) comprising a compressor, an overall control circuit suitable to carry out the acceptance of cashing means, store transactions, control service times, and manage communications, as well as a communication module, preferably via modem with the autonomous use terminals (55.1, 55.2,... 55.n), and said autonomous use terminals (55.1, 55.2,... 55.n) comprising a visualization device, a pressure control, a keyboard control, a payment control including a money box and a card reader, as well as a pressure transducer.